Detachable fasteining member for buttons



Sept. 3, 1957 J. RUBENSTEIN DETACHABLE FASTENING MEMBER FOR BUTTONS Filed Feb. 25. 1955 INVENTOR. JUL/,4 EUBEMSZE/A/ DETACHABLE FASTENING MEMBER FOR BUTTUNS .Eulia Rubenstein, New York, N. Y.

Application February 25, 1953, Seriai No. 338,744

1 Claim. (Cl. 24-13) This invention relates to a detachable button and fastening member for buttons and other articles.

Buttons are generally fastened permanently to various articles of wearing apparel and the fastening means is generally sewing thread which is looped through the buttons and which is sewn to the garments. It is desirable, from time to time, to remove certain buttons, especially the larger and more ornamental buttons, from the garments to which they are fastened. This is desirable, for example, to prevent loss of these buttons when the garments are cleaned at professional dry cleaning establishments. Sometimes it is desirable to remove these buttons from the garments to which they are fastened to prevent damage or injury to said buttons during the course of dry cleaning operations or to prevent them from tearing or otherwise damaging the cloth to which they are fastened. At times it is found desirable and perhaps even necessary to transfer buttons from one location to another on the same garment or from one garment to another for purposes of ornamentation, fitting and economy.

In all such cases, it would be helpful if the fastening means were detachable without great difficulty and also attachable with ease and convenience. This would especially be true where there may be a lack or deficiency of such manual dexterity as is required for threading needles and sewing buttons, or shortage of time, as in the case of busy housekeepers, working women, men in uniform or aging or sick people.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide a button fastening device which detachably secures a conventional button to a garment. This button fastening device comprises two basic elements: A cup or button-shaped member and a hook-shaped member which is swivelly mounted thereon. The hookshaped member engages the eye of the shank of the button through the cloth of the garment and it locks to said button-shaped member in closed position so as to prevent disengagement with said cloth and with said eye. An important feature of this invention is the manner in which the hook-shaped member is mounted on the button-shaped member and the manner in which it swivels relative to said button-shaped member. The hook-shaped member is provided with a shank at the end where it is swivelly connected to the button-shaped member. This shank is disposed at an acute angle relative to the plane which the button-shaped member occupies. The hook-shaped member is swivelly movable on the longitudinal axis of said shank. When it is in one angular position, its hooked end engages the button-shaped member and is locked to it in closed position. When it is in another angular position, say 180 removed from the first angular position, it is wide open so that it may be threaded with great ease through the cloth of the garment and through the eye of the shank of the button. Important, too, is the anglebent point of the hook which is easy to insert into the fabric and which makes for a more compact device. Variations in depth of the hook are wholly feasible within *nited tates Patent 2,804,668 Patented Sept. 3, 1957 wide ranges without any increase in the dimensions of the cup.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a button, as distinguished from a button fastening device, which embodies the hook-shaped member above mentioned. Consequently, it is possible to secure the button directly to the cloth of the garment, without the use of needle and thread and without the need of a button fastening member of any kind. When used as a button it may be employed to hold a garment in closed position without the need or use of buttonholes. Similarly, it may be used to secure bandages in place and it has like uses for purposes of ornamentation, as in arts and crafts, and it may also be employed in industry.

Preferred forms of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1A is a wide View of a button which incorporates the detachable fastening means herein claimed, said button being shown detachably secured to the cloth of a garment.

Fig. 1B is a similar view showing how the same button may be used as a button fastening device.

Fig. 2A is a plan view of one form of button fastening device herein claimed.

Fig. 2B is a side view thereof showing the button engaging hook in open position.

Fig. 2C is a plan view of the blank from which the outside cap of said button fastening device is made.

Fig. 2D is a plan view of the blank from which the inside cap is made.

Fig. 2E is a view of the hook.

Fig. 3A is a perspective view of a button fastening member made in accordance with a second form of this invention.

Fig. 3B is a perspective view of the cap of said button fastening member before its periphery is curled inwardly to engage and hold the button engaging hook.

Fig. 3C is a transverse section through the button fastening device shown in Fig. 3A.

Fig. 4A is a plan view of a blank from which the cap of a third form of this invention is made.

Fig. 4B is a plan view, partly in section, of said button fastening member made in accordance with the third form of this invention.

Fig. 4C is a sectional view through said button fastening device made in accordance with the third form of this invention.

Fig. 5A is a perspective view of a button fastening device made in accordance with a fourth form of this invention.

Fig. 5B is a sectional view therethrough.

Fig. 5C is a plan view of a blank from which the inner cap or retaining plate of said fourth form of the invention is made.

Fig. 5D is a perspective view of said blank after it has been bent and after the button engaging hook has been mounted thereon. a

Fig. 5E shows two positions of the hook, one intended to represent its closed position and the other, removed therefrom, intended to represent its open position.

Fig. 6A is a plan view of a blank from which the inner cap or retaining plate of a button fastening device made in accordance with a fifth form of this invention is fabricated.

Fig. 6B is a sectional view through a button fastening device made in accordance with the fifth form of this invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1A and IE, it will be'seen that a button fastening device 10 may be employed either as a button or as a device for fastening a button or other object such as an emblem shield or the like to an article of wearing apparel or the like. In Fig. 1A button fas- 3 ailing de i e 1! is shown n. en me with. a p e e o fabric 12 of a conventional garment such as a dress, suit or coat. It will be noted that this device comprises two basic. elements: A button 14 and; a hook 16. The hook is pivotally secured at one end to one portion of the button, and its. opposite. end-may. be locked to. an. opposite portion: of the button. Said latter end. of the hook may be.v disengaged from the button. in order to thread it through the fabric, as shown in Fig. 1A, or else to release it from the fabric. In Fig. 1A, button. 14 is shown on the. right. side. or outside of the garment.

In Fig. 1B,. button14 is shown on the inside of the garment, and a conventional button 18 is shown on the outside. of the garment. Button 18' is provided with a shank 20 having a hole or eye 22 formed therein. It is: through said eye: that hook 16 is looped to fasten button 18 to fabric 12 of the garment. In this case, the hook not only: engages the. button 18 but it also engages the fabric. 7

Turning. now to Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E, it will be seen that button. fastening device 24 consists of three component. parts: An outer cap or button 26, an inner cap or retaining plate 28, and a hook 30. Blank 32 shown in. Fig. 2C is. the blank from which the outer cap or button 26 ismade. Blank 34 shown in Fig. 2D is the blank from which the inner cap or retaining plate 28 is made.

- It will be noted. that blank 32 is shaped, generally, like a disc, with a plurality of peripheral ears or petals 36, 38, 40 42, 4-4- and 46. The spaces between cars 40 and 42 and cars 36 and 46 are relatively large and arcuate enlargements or cutouts 48 and 50 are formed at the inner or closed ends of said spaces. When the ears are curled over in the manner shown in Figs. 2A and 2B, they lock the inner cap or retaining plate 28 in place. Blank 34' is a disc-shaped member with a peripheral cutout 52 and a looped portion 54 which is formed from the material which occupies said cutout. Disc 34 is curled over upon itself substantially along circular folding line 56- to form the. inner cap 28 of the assembly. A hole ST is formed in disc 34' to receive the hook.

Hook 30 is provided with a head 58, a straight shank portion 60 and-a-hook-shaped portion 62 with an angle-set pointed endpiece. portion 54-of the retaining cap 28 so as to provide the hook with a firm support which would allow it to swivel about the longitudinal axis of its said shank portion. The head 58 of the hook engages behind the.looped portion 54 andprevents accidental dislodgment of the hook.

Interrupted line 66 represents, the axial center of the outer cap 26, It will be noted that curled portion 54 supports the shank 60 of the hook' at an acute angle. relative to said axial line. Consequently, hook 30 is enabled to swivel from its solid line position in Fig. 28 to its d'otted line position inFig. 2B and back again. By reason of-its angular relation to the central axis of cap 26, hook 30 in enabled to swivel from a wide open position illustrated by said solid lines to a fully closed position indicated by the dotted lines. When the hook is in its fully open position, it can very readily be threaded through the cloth of the garment and through the eye. of a button, and this is one of the important objects and features of the present invention.

Itis at this point that openings48 and 50 become important. It is through one. of these openings, namely opening 50, that the shank of the hook protrudes. It is into the other opening, namely, opening 48, that the pointed angle-bent. end of the hook projects. into locked position. The point projects into said opening 48 and hole 57 of the, outer andinner caps. and it is frictionally held therein against accidental dislodgment and also by reason-of its bentportion which engages therein. Furthermore, the curved. portion of the hook (between hook portion 62 andianglle-bent end portion ,64) indicat d by.

means of the reference character 68 engages lip 70 which 4 is adjacent opening 48 to provide a positive locking elfect in addition to the frictional locking action above mentioned. The angular setting of shank 60 also helps lock the hook in its closed position.

Figs. 3A, 3B and 30 show a button fastening device 72 which consists solely of a cap 74 and a hook 76. Cap 74 is generally cylindrical in shape before its peripheral edge is curled inwardly as shown. in Fig. 3A. Dotted line 78 indicates the folding line on which peripheral edge 80 is bent as shown in Fig. 3C. It will be seen that a hole 82 is formed in said peripheral portion 80 and a slot 84 provides communication between said hole 82 and the outer edge of said peripheral portion 80. An angularly extending lug 86 is formed along said peripheral edge diagonally across slot 84. This lug is provided with a notch 88 along its outer edge. Similarly, a second hole 90 is formed in peripheral portion 80 diagonally opposite hole 82. A slot 92 projects diagonally from hole 90 to the edge of peripheral portion 80 to provide access to said hole.

In the forming of cap 74, lug 86 is bent under peripheral portion 80. and said peripheral portion is then curled into the cap as Fig. 3C clearly shows. Hook 76 is pivotally anchored in hole 82. The shank of the hook will enter hole 82 through slot 84 and the head of the hook will be caught behind said hole 82 and behind bent lug 86. This lug strengthens the construction and prevents the hook from pulling loose. Notch 88 provides clearance for the shank of the hook. The pointed angle-bent end of the hook is movable through slot 92 into hole 90 in order to lock the hook in closed position and nib 94 at the point where hole '90 meets slot 92 tends to engage the hook and further lock it in place.

Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C show a button fastening device 106 which also consists of only two elements, a cap 108 and a hook 110. The cap is made from a blank 112 'which has a plurality of ears 114 along its periphery.

These ears are curled over in the manner shown in Figs. 4B and 40 to form the cap. One car 116 is not only folded over but it is also curled around to form a tubular member 118 as shown in Fig. 4B. The shank 120 of Shank 60 is mounted within looped the hook is swivelly mounted within said tubular member and the head 122 of said hook is caught behind said tubular member and against the main body of cap 108. Axial movement of the. shank and hence of the hook as a whole is thereby prevented but the hook remains free to pivot or swivel about the longitudinal axis of its said shank 120. Once again it will be seen that the shank is maintained at an acute angle relative to the central axis of. the cap and'it is also maintained at an acute angle relative to the plane on which the flat portion of the main body of the cap is disposed.

Ear 124. which is substantially diametrically opposite car 116 is provided with a portion 126 which is curled over as Figs. 4B and 4C clearly show to catch the pointed end 128 of the hook; It is this means which locks the hook in closed position after it has been threaded through the. cloth of a garment and the eye of a button. Raised lip 127 engages bend 68 in the hook to lock the hook in place.

Figs. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D and 5E relate to a button fastener 130 which. consists of three component parts: An outer cap 132, an inner retaining plate 134 and a hook 136. The cap is substantially cylindrical in shape and it has an inwardly turned flange 138 which serves to retain the retaining plate in place. The retaining plate has a pair of lugs 140 and 142 which, when bent over as shown in Figs. 53 and 5D, serve as spacers to hold retaining plate 134 in place against flange 138. Ear 144 is provided with a. slot 146 which extends into the main body of retaining plate 134 and it is also provided with a laterally through slot 146. More specifically, it projects through that portion of slot 146 which is formed in ear 144 and it also projects through the opposite end of said slot 146 which is formed in the main body of retaining plate 134. A lug 152 bears against the shank of the hook to help retain it in place and lug 148 bears against the head 154 of the hook to prevent axial movement thereof. Lug 144 also serves as a spacer to provide a three pointed support for retaining plate 134 against the back of cap 132.

The action of hook 136 differs from that of the other hook used in all of the other forms of this invention and it is shown in Fig. 5E. The dotted line position is 180 removed from the solid line position and when it is in one of said positions it is wide open for convenient threading through the cloth of a garment and through the eye of a button. When it is in the other of said positions, it may be locked closed. Retaining plate 134 has a cutout 156 formed opposite ear 144 and a lug 158 is struck out from said cutout. This lug 158 is curled in the manner shown in Fig. 5D so as to form a catch for the outwardly bent end 160 of hook 136, see Fig. 5A. This catch is partly positive in view of the curved form of lug 158 and it is also partly resilient to enable bent portion 160 of the hook to snap into and out of locked position relative to said curved lug or catch member 158.

Referring now to Figs. 6A and 6B, it will be seen that button fastening member 162 resembles the button fastening member 130 last above described in that it is provided with three component parts: A cap 164, a retaining plate 166, and a hook 168. The difference between the two constructions resides principally in the construction of retaining plate 166 and in the shape of the hook which is the same as that shown in Fig. 2E. This retaining plate has a pair of lugs 169 and 170 which, when bent over, serve as spacers between the main body of the retaining plate and the main body of the cap. There is a central cutout 172 and an ear 174 in said cutout. This car has a central opening 176 and a pair of arms 178 and 180 which flank said central opening. When ear 174 is bent over in the manner shown in Fig. 613, its opening 176 accommodates the shank 182 of hook 168. The two arms 178 and 180 engage the shank between them to help retain it in place. The head 184 of the hook is disposed between arms 178 and 180 on the one hand and the in- 4 side of cap 164 on the other hand. Axial movement of the shank is thereby prevented. It will also be noted that shank 182 projects through a hole 186 which is formed in retaining plate 166. A slit 188 joins hole 186 to the peripheral edge of said retaining plate to make for flexibility and resilience.

It will thus be noted that the relationship of holes 176 and 186 is such, after ear 1'74 is bent as shown in Fig. 6B, that the shank of the hook is held at an acute angle relative to the plane of the main body of the cap and the plane of the main body of the retaining plate. The hook is therefore able to swivel from its solid line position in Fig. 6B to its broken line position therein and back again.

A lug 190 is formed in retaining plate 166 substantially diagonally opposite hole 186. t This lug is bent and curved radially outwardly as Fig. 6B clearly shows to serve as a catch for the bent end 192 of the hook. This curved lug 190 is somewhat resilient in structure and it holds the bent end of the hook both positively and resiliently.

The foregoing is descriptive of preferred forms of this invention and it will clearly be understood that these preferred forms may be modified and other preferred forms may be had within the broad spirit of this inveniton and the broad scope of the claim.

I claim:

A button fastening device of the character described, comprising a cap, a hook-shaped member swivelly mounted at one end on said cap, the axis of movement of said hook-shaped member being at an acute angle relative to the plane of the cap, and a catch on said cap for the opposite, free end of said hook-shaped member to hold said hook-shaped member in closed position, said cap being provided with a looped portion and the hook-shaped member being provided with a shank portion which said looped portion encircles and holds, said hook-shaped member being also provided with a head adjacent said shank and said head being disposed between the main body of the cap and its looped portion to prevent axial movement of said shank and of the hook-shaped member as a whole.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 108,578 Farjeon Oct. 25, 1870 361,410 Hall Apr. 19, 1887 1,387,948 Silverman Aug. 16, 1921 

